Pushing open the door, a fragrant aroma of food wafted in.
The Hidden Guard walked in, just about to ask what he was needed for, when the Heir of Marquis Beining asked first, "Judging by your look, did you encounter a problem?"
At the ntion of this, the Hidden Guard felt a headache coming on.
"Young Master Zhao’s jade pendant broke," he said.
He handed over the brocade box.
The Heir of Marquis Beining reached out to take it.
Opening it, he saw a pile of broken jade pendants.
He twitched at the corner of his mouth, "How did it break?"
"It was the Prince who broke it," the Hidden Guard said truthfully.
"The Young Master wants to recreate an identical one, but no shop in the Capital City can do it."
Prince NanAn glanced at it, "This is too shattered. I wonder if the jade craftsn in the palace can manage?"
In terms of carving and polishing skills, no one can compare to Master Liu in the palace.
The Hidden Guard had thought of entering the palace.
But he couldn’t get in.
The guards dared not stop the future Heir’s wife, but the Young Master and he were not included.
Recalling the Empress Dowager’s order prohibiting Xie Jingchen and Su Jin from entering the palace, Prince NanAn wanted to laugh but couldn’t, accepting the brocade box, he said, "Let make a trip for you."
The Hidden Guard quickly thanked him.
Chu Shun placed a hand on the Hidden Guard’s shoulder, "No need to thank , just settle the bill for Brother Jingchen."
The Hidden Guard, "..."
"Not only settle the bill but also leave enough for three to five days’ worth of als," Prince NanAn advised.
"..."
Out on the bustling street.
Young Master Su, Young Master Shen, and the Ninth Prince were strolling leisurely along the street.
From one stall to the next, they played to their hearts’ content.
Passing by a shop.
A voice ca, "Gentlen, co in and have so fun!"
Young Master Su stopped his steps, looking towards the shop.
He glanced around, confirming he was the only one passing by.
He lifted his foot to approach, but the Ninth Prince grabbed his sleeve.
"What are you doing?" the Ninth Prince asked.
"Going in to take a look," Young Master Su said.
"It’s the first ti soone called ’gentleman’; I can’t refuse."
The Ninth Prince, "..."
Young Master Shen, "..."
The two looked at the shop, lines forming on their faces.
The shop sold rice after all.
"Gentlen, co in and have so fun!" ca the voice again.
Young Master Shen frowned, "This voice sounds improper."
Young Master Su nodded, "This voice is indeed a bit odd."
It’s because it’s odd that he wants to go inside.
Whatever he wanted to do, Young Master Shen and the Ninth Prince couldn’t stop him.
Young Master Su stepped into the shop, and the two had to follow.
Behind them, not far away, was Steward Lin and two servants.
Young Master Su did not like the servants staying too close, as it disturbed his mood for shopping.
Steward Lin just had to follow from a distance.
As Young Master Su and the others entered, they realized it wasn’t a person being improper but a parrot.
With a delicate body, green feathers, smooth and shiny.
They had only heard of parrots mimicking, but it was their first ti seeing a parrot that could talk.
The Ninth Prince and his companions were quickly captivated.
Young Master Su pointed at the parrot and asked the shop assistant, "How much for this parrot?"
The shop assistant’s face darkened.
Their shop sold rice, not parrots.
Seeing the splendid attire of the Ninth Prince and his companions, the steward quickly approached, saying, "This parrot sells for a hundred taels."
Young Master Su looked at the Ninth Prince.
Young Master Shen also looked at him.
Among the three, the Ninth Prince was the wealthiest.
As for the money—
Of course, it ca from swindling the Emperor.
The Marquis Dongxiang was too astute, impossible to swindle.
Young Master Su’s monthly salary had been advanced for three years.
Young Master Shen was even worse off, without any monthly salary at all.
A few days ago, Young Master Su accompanied the Ninth Prince into the palace to Consort Li to request an advance on his monthly salary. As there was no precedent, they specially went to the Emperor.
The Emperor, concerned about appearances, felt embarrassed that his own son didn’t have money to spend, and gave them two hundred taels.
The Ninth Prince shook his head, "I only have fifty-two taels left."
He looked at the shopkeeper, who remained firm on the price.
Steward Lin stepped in, and Young Master Su looked at him.
Steward Lin silently retreated.
Young Master Su, "..."
He hadn’t even asked to borrow money yet!
Without money, what was the point of strolling?
He looked at the parrot, feeling reluctant to part with it, saying to the shopkeeper, "I want this parrot; I’ll co back with money."
"Then, young sir, please co back soon," the shopkeeper laughed.
"I’ll rob so money and co buy it," Young Master Su assured confidently.
Shopkeeper, "..."
Leaving the rice shop, the Ninth Prince looked at him, "Didn’t your father forbid you from robbing?"
"I won’t rob; I’ll borrow so," Young Master Su said.
"..."
Would anyone lend him money?
The Ninth Prince looked skeptical.
Young Master Su looked around.
Earlier, while strolling, he’d noticed his brother-in-law’s attendant.
He should still be on this street.
Young Master Su walked forward.
Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The Hidden Guard settled the bill for Prince NanAn and his entourage, leaving a thousand taels at Drunken Immortal Pavilion before stepping out.
After only a few steps, Young Master Su and the others stood before him.
Panting, sweat drenching their foreheads.
The Hidden Guard looked at them, "What do you need?"
"Got any money? Lend so," Young Master Su said.
"..."
The Hidden Guard took out his purse, "How much does the young master want to borrow?"
"A hundred taels," Young Master Su said, holding up one finger.
"..."
The Hidden Guard cleared his throat, face reddening, "Not that much."
"Then fifty taels," Young Master Su said.
"..."
The Hidden Guard looked awkward.
Young Master Su was stunned, "Not even fifty taels?"
A tone of surprise and small incredulous eyes.
The Hidden Guard felt embarrassed for the Young Master.
"My brother-in-law is too poor, isn’t he?" Young Master Su lanted.
Then—
He took the purse from the Ninth Prince’s hand, handed it to the Hidden Guard, and said, "Tell my brother-in-law to spend sparingly."
The Hidden Guard, "..."
Of course, the Hidden Guard didn’t take it.
Young Master Su stuffed the purse into his hands.
The Ninth Prince looked at Young Master Su, "What about us?"
"We’ll go to the palace to ask your Imperial Brother for money," Young Master Su said straightforwardly.
"A thousand taels will last us a long ti."
Before the Hidden Guard could explain why he was out of money, Young Master Su and the others had already turned and run off.
The Hidden Guard looked at the purse, tucked it into his bosom, and rode away.
Back at Agarwood Pavilion, the Hidden Guard entered the study.
After reporting the situation of the jade pendant to Xie Jingchen, he placed the purse in front of him.
Su Jin was standing by Xie Jingchen’s side; she picked up the purse, opened it to see silver inside, and smiled, "What’s this?"
The Hidden Guard cleared his throat.
"Bumped into Young Master Su on the street asking to borrow money. Since I happened to be out of money, he gave this purse, advising the Young Master to spend sparingly," the Hidden Guard said, trying to hold back laughter.
Su Jin couldn’t help but laugh and cry.
Her brother, really.
He needed to borrow money himself yet was so generous.
Xie Jingchen’s face darkened.
He looked at her, "You wouldn’t confiscate this purse, would you?"
Su Jin, "..."
How could he be so annoying?!
No one else ruined her image in her brother’s mind like this.
Su Jin tossed the purse to Xie Jingchen, "One day when my brother finds out he’s been tricked, just wait to be robbed."
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